# DrawerJournal vs First diary, Theme Diary

The clearest difference is update cadence: DrawerJournal at every 4 days against First diary, Theme Diary's every 3 weeks. First diary, Theme Diary's advantage is review sentiment (100% vs 88%). On price, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. DrawerJournal sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month and First diary, Theme Diary sells 7 in-app purchases, starting at $0.99 per 2 months. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

DrawerJournal ships an update every 4 days, First diary, Theme Diary every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 25, 2026 and June 1, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | DrawerJournal | First diary, Theme Diary |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.6 (74 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/drawerjournal-private-diary/id1553585038/reviews)** | — |
| Number of ratings | **74** | — |
| Positive reviews | 87.5% of reviews | **100.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | Yes |
| Update frequency | **Every 4 days** | Every 3 weeks |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 39 MB | 131 MB |
| Requires iOS | **16.4** | 17.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch | iPhone, iPad, Mac |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [ToastPlanet Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1437803152) | [G-SOFT](https://appshunter.io/developer/368394644) |

## What reviewers say

### DrawerJournal

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/drawerjournal-private-diary/id1553585038)

This app allows you to easily record daily events and thoughts in a timeline format. You can add text, photos, and audio recordings, and organize entries with tags. It offers a secure, offline space for your private memories.

**Highlights:** Chronological notes with photos and audio, Organize entries with labels/tags, Voice recording for immersive memories, Secure app lock with biometric authentication, Keyword search functionality, Offline data storage

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Apple Watch app, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| DrawerJournal Premium Monthly | $2.99 | per month |
| DrawerJournal Premium Annual | $20.99 | per year |
| DrawerJournal One-Time | $59.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 💻 Intuitive and easy to use
- 🗓️ Convenient timeline-based journaling
- 🔒 Secure with password protection
- 🖼️ Ability to add photos
- 🏷️ Useful tagging and search functionality

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🔁 No cross-device sync or cloud backup
- 🔍 Limited customization options
- 💰 Concerns about aggressive monetization through ads and subscriptions

**Reported bugs**

- Occasional crashes or data loss when editing entries
- Background music playback issues

**Requested features**

- Ability to add videos or audio recordings
- Cloud sync and backup across devices
- More customization options for fonts, colors, and layouts
- Thread-like functionality to connect related entries
- Improved image handling and editing tools


### First diary, Theme Diary

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/first-diary-theme-diary/id6483616889)

This app helps you journal your daily experiences with themes, emotions, and media. Record events with photos, videos, and location, and organize them privately. Premium features offer unlimited entries and media.

**Highlights:** Themed event recording, Emotion and level tracking, Add photos and videos, Location information, Secret themes and events, Passcode and biometric protection, iCloud sync

**In-app purchases (7)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Show weather | $0.99 | per 2 months |
| Hide ads | $0.99 | per month |
| Number of images | $1.99 | one-time |
| Character limit | $1.99 | one-time |
| Show weather | $3.99 | one-time |
| Hide ads (Unlimited) | $9.99 | one-time |
| Unlock passcode | $19.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is DrawerJournal free?

DrawerJournal is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is First diary, Theme Diary free?

First diary, Theme Diary is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Do DrawerJournal or First diary, Theme Diary have ads?

Both DrawerJournal and First diary, Theme Diary show ads.

### Which is updated more often, DrawerJournal or First diary, Theme Diary?

DrawerJournal ships an update every 4 days, and First diary, Theme Diary every 3 weeks. Most recently, DrawerJournal was updated on September 25, 2026 and First diary, Theme Diary on June 1, 2026.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*